Automatic electric can opener



July 16; 19632 r.; Hf. CROTEAU Em.. 3`,09742`7 AUTOMATIC EBEZGTR'IG CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1y Filed Jann 22, 1962 July 16, 1963 T. H. cRoTEAU ETAL 3,097,427

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1962 INVENTR` THe/wss f @Ro Tenu Q my km ll m .TT I O .QN qm QM. l Q$` N Q E www 5k m w @EN Wm TER A7. Gnoufs/V nite Stats 3,d97,t27 AUTOMATIC ELECTRHC CAN UPENER Thomas H. Croteau, Hartford, and Walter A. Groutcn,

Avon, Conn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to The Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, lil., a corporation ot Delaware Filed Ian. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 167,698 7 Claims. (Cl. Sii-4) This invention relates to a device for opening cans or like containers, and has particular reference to 'an improved automatic electric can yopener for use on vending machines to automatically open cans dispensed thereby.

Vending machines are now commonly used for dispensing beverages in containers such as cans, and it is desirable that such vending machines be provided with a convenient device for quickly and safely opening the cans after they are taken from the vending machine. In addition, since the beverages sold in such vending machines may contain substances which are conducive to bacteria growth, it Iis extremely impontant that can openers for such machines be adapted for clean and sanitary operation and easy maintenance to prevent the transfer of bacteria or foreign matter to the contents of the container being opened.

l-t is therefore an object of our present invention to provide an automatic can opener in which the parts are readily accessible hor cleaning to prevent the accumulation of foreign matter and bacteria thereon.

A further object is to provide a can opener mechanism in which the can opening element may be quickly and easily detached from the device for cleaning or replacement.

Another Iobject of our invention is to provide an automatic can opener in which the entire can opening mechanism is mounted above the can so that it will not be exposed to any liquid spilled from the can.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic can opener for vending machines in which opening of the can is effected in 'a normally closed compartment which shields the can and its contents from exposure to foreign matter and provides maximum protection for the user.

A still further object is to provide an improved automatic electric can opener which is easy to use and cornpletely safe in its operation.

These and other objects and 'advantages of our invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FiG. l is an elevational 'rear view of an automatic can opening device embodying our present invention shown mounted on the door panel of a vending machine.

FIG. 2 is a sectional side View thereof :taken on line 2 2 of FIG. 1 and showing the mechanism in its normal, :at rest condition.

FIG. 3 is a similar View showing said mechanism in can opening position.

FIG. 4 is an elevational plan view of said device.

FIG. 5 is an elevational front view showing said device and a portion of the vending machine door panel on which it is mounted.

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view further illustrating the operation of our novel can opener.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational View illustrating the operation of the door return spring provided in 'our device.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic View of the electric circuit of said device.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown for illustrative purposes in the drawings, our novel can opener is adapted to be mounted on the front panel 5 of the outer door of a conventional vending machine for convenient use in opening a can dispensed therefrom. The can opener is so constructed that the operating mechanism thereof will be disposed inwardly of said outer door and thereby protected from exposure to dust and dirt and also against tampering.

The can opener comprises a unitary base 6 including 1a rearwardly extending enclosure portion 7 providing a can receiving chamber y8 having an entrance S-a opening to the front of said base through a mounting plate 9 formed thereon. The chamber 8 has top and bottom walls S-b and S-c, respectively, and a V-shaped rear wall S-d which is engageable by the upper and lower annular beads on a can `of standard size and is arranged to locate said can in proper position for opening. In addition, spaced, parallel bosses 8e and 8-1 are formed on the top and bottom walls of said chamber for gnliding said can into proper engagement with said rear wall 8-d and for further 'assisting in locating said can.

The mounting plate 9 is adapted to be secured against the inner side of the vending machine door panel 5 with the chamber S in register with an open-ing 10 formed in said panel, said opening being larger than the chamber 8 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The entrance to the chamber 8 is closed by a door 11 having rel-atively fixed hinge pin L11-a at one side thereof which extends from the upper and lower edges of the door. The opposite end portions of the hinge pin are pivotally mounted in bearings 12-12 which are clamped between the plate 9 land a frame 13 which overlaps the edges of the opening 10 and is secured against the outer side of the door'panelS by screws 1dthat are used to mount the entire device upon said door.

The base 6 also includes spaced, parallel supporting walls 15 and 16 which `extend vertically upwardly from the top of the enclosure portion 7 and rearwardly from the mounting plate 9, the wall 16 being of substantially the same rearward extent as, but considerably lower than, the wall 15 as shown in FIGS. l and 4. A11 elongated opening 17 is formed in the top wall of the enclosure portion '7 between the walls 15 and 16 and said opening communicates with the chamber 8. v

The walls 15 and 16 support a pivot pin 18 adjacent their rearmost ends which extends therebetween transversely of the opening 17, and an elongated carrier arm 19 is mounted at one end on said pivot pin for swinging movement between said walls toward and away from the opening 17. The carrier arm has a pair of can punches 2d and Zit-a extending perpendicularly therefrom in longitudinally spaced relation which are `adapted to extend through the opening 17 into the chamber 8i. The punch 20 constitutes the primary punch for forming a dispensing opening in the top of a can and the punch 2li-a is adapted to form a vent opening in said can top diametrically opposite said dispensing opening. The said carrier arm is biased upwardly to its normal or retracted position, shown in FIG. 2, by a spring 21 which is connected at its upper end to a lug on the plate 9 and at its lower end to a lateral projection 19-aor1 the carrier arm by a detachable loop 21-a. The said carrier arm 19 is urged downwardly to can punching position, shown in FIG. 3, against the'pull of said spring -by a rotatable crank 22. Said crank is aixed to the drive shaft 23 of an electric gear motor 24 mounted upon the opposite side of the wall 15 and carries fa roller Z5 at its free eind for frictionless engagement with the carrier arm 19.

Referring now to FIGS. l, 4, 6 .and 7, it will be seen that the hinge pin "l1-a has a portion at its upper end which extends rearwardly through the opening10 in the door panel 5 and is formed to provide an oifset hook 26 having spaced, vertical, stop portions 27 and 28 and a horizontal slide portion 29. A spring 30 anchored at one end to a lug 31 on the rear of the mounting plate 9 is connected at its other end to the hook 26 4by means of a loop 32 which is adapted to traverse the slide portion 29 `during opening and closing movements of the door. When the door is closed, the loop 32 is disposed adjacent the stop portion 28, 4as shown in FIG. l, at which point the moment arm through which the spring acts is greatest so that the maximum spring `force will be applied to the door 11 to maintain said door in closed position.

The door 11 is provided with a manually engageable handle portion 33 on its exterior to permit facile opening thereof, and as said `door approaches open position the spring loop 32 will slide along the horizontal slide portion 29 of the hook 26 to the inner limit of its travel as determined by the stop portion 27. This action reduces the effective length of the moment arm through which the spring acts and thereby proportionately reduces the force acting yon the door and tending to bias the door to its closed position. As a result, it is much easier to open the door and to hold the door in lopen position, .and there is much less danger of the doors slamming on the users hand or iingers.

The automatic operation of our improved can opener is controlled by conventional switches mounted as shown in the drawings land connected :as disclosed in the circuit diagram of FIG. 8. At one side ofthe motor 24, we provide a pair of motor controlling circuits including a single pole-double throw switch 34 which is mounted lon the wall and has an operating arm 34-1 disposed lfor engagement by the crank 22; a normally open, single Ipole-single throw switch 35 that is mounted on the plate 9 and has an arm 35-a disposed `for operation by the hook 26 on the hinge pin of the door 11 and a single pole-double throw switch 36 that is mounted on the exterior of the enclosure portion 7 and has an arm 36-a projecting into the chamber 8 for engagement by a can, indicated at 37, placed therein. The circuit may :also include ya signal light 38 which is connected in parallel with the motor 24 to indicate when the can opener is operating.

When the can opener is not in operation and the door is closed, the switches occupy the positions shown in full lines in FIG. 8. That is, one of the motor controlling circuits is closed through the crank switch 34 and the door switch 35 and open through the can switch 36. The other of Said circuits is open through the switch 34 and closed through said switch 36. Thus, if a person should open the door 11 iand manually depress the switch operating arm 36-a, which places the switch 36 in series with the switches 34 and 35, the motor will not operate because the switch 35 lopens when the door is opened, ras shown in dotted lines in FIG. 8, and breaks the circuit to the motor. This arrangement prevents operation of the can opener by .a person tampering with the switch mechanism and provides a high degree of safety.

When it is desired to open a can dispensed from the vending machine, the door 11 of the can opener is opened and the can is inserted into the chamber 8 between the 4guide bosses S-e and 8-f and pushed rearwardly into engagement -with the rear wall 8d of said chamber. As the can is moved into position for opening, it will engage and depress the switch arm 36-a to cause movement of the switch 36 into the dotted line position shown in FIG. 8, wherein said switch is connected in series with the switches 34 and 3-5. The motor 24 will not be energized at this time, however, since the switch 35 is open when the door 11 is open and breaks the circuit to the motor.

When the door is allowed to close under the influence of the spring 30, the hook 26 will close the switch 35 to initiate the operation of the motor 24. The motor will then rotate the crank 22 lone full revolution in a clockwise direction, as shown by the :arrow in FIG. 2, during which said crank will pivot the carrier arm V19 downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3 to cause the punches 20 and 20-a to progressively pierce the top of the can 37. After the crank` 22 passes bottom dead-center position, the spring 21 will lift the vcarrier arm upwardly to retract the punches from the holes formed in the top of the can. As the crank 22 approaches its normal position, shown in FIG. 2, the roller will engage the switch arm 34-a and move the switch 34 to its alternate position illustrated by the dotted line in FIG. 8 thus breaking the circuit to the motor 24 and causing the crank to stop with the `switch 34 still in its said alternate position.

When the door 11 is opened to permit -access to the opened can 37, the switch 35 Will move toits open position and, upon removal of the can, the switch 36 will return to its normal position, shown in full lines in FIG. 8, thereby completing the circuit to the motor through the switch 34. Thus, the motor will be momentarily energized and will rotate the crank until the roller disengages the switch arm 34-a, whereupon the switch 34 will return to its normal position, shown in lfull lines again breaking the circuit to the motor 24 and causing the motor to stop. The mechanism and the switches Will then be in normal position ready for another cycle.

In order to insure operation of the can opener upon insertion of a can, the chamber 8 is made of such depth that it will just accommodate a can of standard diameter, and the door is arranged so that its inner face is disposed closely adjacent the entrance to the chamber when said door is closed, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, if the can is not fully inserted into the chamber 8, the door will perform this function when it is allowed to close under the influence of the spring 30 and will depress the switch arm 36-a to cause operation of the opener.

We also provide for convenient removal of the punch carrying arm 19 for cleaning or replacement by constructing the pivot pin 1S so that it may be easily detached from the walls 1S and 16. The pin is thus r0- tatably mounted in the openings in said walls and is formed with a perpendicularly extending locking por- -tion 18-a which is adapted -to t into a notch 39 formed in a horizontal liange 40 on the exterior of the enclosure portion '7. When it is desired to remove the carrier arm 19, it is only necessary to open the vending machine door and the entire can opening mechanism is exposed as shown in FIG. 1. The pin 18 is then readily accessible and the entire carrier `arm 19 may be quickly detached from the device by simply withdrawing said pivot pin and unhooking @the spring 21 from said arm.

It is believed that the invention and its many advantages will now be understood vand that various modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. It is not, therefore, desired to limit the invention to the exact embodiment shown and described herein, and, accordingly, 'all such changes and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

l. A can opening device including a base having a plate por-tion at the front thereof for mounting said device upon a supporting panel and an enclosure portion extending rearwardly from said plate portion, said enclosure portion forming a can receiving chamber with an entrance in said plate portion and having an opening in the top thereof communicating with said chamber, a mounting wall extending upwardly above the top of said enclosure portion adjacent said opening, can opening mechanism mounted on said wall including a detachable pivot pin, a carrier arm pivotally mounted on said pin on the side of said wall adjacent said opening, a can opening element on said carrier army movable through said opening into said chamber for opening a can therein, an electric motor mounted on the opposite side of said wall from said carrier arm, means `driven by said motor for moving said carrier arm to can opening position, and a spring anchored on said base and detachably connected to said carrier arm for biasing said arm out of can opening position.

2. A can opening device as set forth in claim l wherein said can opening mechanism is accessible from the rear of said base to permit facile removal of said carrier arm for cleaning or replacement.

3. An automatic can opening device for installation on the door panel of a vending machine, said device including a unitary base having fa plate at the front thereof and an enclosure portion extending rearwardly from said plate forming a can receiving chamber with an entrance at the front of said plate, said plate being adapted for attachment to the inner side of said door panel with said chamber in register with :an aperture therein to permit access to said chamber from the outer side of said door, said enclosure portion having an yopening in the top thereof communicating with said chamber, an integral supporting wall extending upwardly above said enclosure portion adjacent said opening, a pivot pin detachably connected to said wall, a carrier member pivotally mounted on said pin on the side of said wall adjacent said opening for movement toward and away therefrom, la can punch carried 'by said arm and movable through said opening for piercing the top of a can in said chamber, a spring anchored lon said base and detachably connected to said arm for biasing said arm away from said opening, a motor mounted on the opposite side of said wall from said carrier arm, a crank operable by said motor for urginlg said carrier arm to can piercing position, said crank being disposed on the same side of said wall as said arm, a door for closing said chamber, a frame bordering said door, bearing members clamped between said frame and the front of said plate and pivotally supporting said door for movement between positions opening and closing said chamber, fastening means lfor securing said `frame against the outer side of said door panel and said base against the inner side of said panel, a spring urging said door toward closed position, an electric circuit for controlling said motor, and switches in said circuit operable by said door, said can, and said crank whereby said circuit will be closed to said motor only when a can is in position to be opened and said door is closed.

4. An automatic can opening device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the said carrier arm is accessible for removal from the device when the vending machine door is opened.

5. In a can opening device, a 'base having a chamber to receive la can to be opened, can opening mechanism mounted on said base lfor opening a can in said chamber, a hinge pin pivotally mounted on said base, a door affixed to said hinge pin for swinging movement between positions closing and opening said chamber, said hinge pin having a hook portion extending radially therefrom and formed to provide a iirst stop portion adjacent said pin, a second stop portion remote from said pin and a slide portion between said stop portions, and a spring anchored at one end to said base and having a loop at its `opposite end slidably embracing said lslide portion, said loop being disposed against said second stop portion when said door is closed whereby the moment arm through which the spring acts is the greatest and maximum closing force is applied to said door, said loop being slidable along said slide portion and into engagement with said first stop portion when said door is opened thereby shortening said moment arm and reducing the closing force applied to said door to facilitate retention of said door in open position while a can is ybeing inserted into or removed from said chamber.

6. In a can opening device, 1a base having a mounting portion at the front thereof and an enclosure portion rearwardly of said mounting portion forming a can receiving chamber in said base with an entrance xat the front thereof, said mounting portion being adapted for attachment to the inner side or" a vending machine door panel to permit access to lsaid chamber from the outer side of said panel through an aperture therein, said enclosure portion having an vopening in the top thereof communicating with said chamber, supporting means on the exterior of said enclosure portion adjacent the opposite sides of said opening, a pivot pin detachably mounted on said supporting means, a carrier arm pivotally mounted on said pin, and can opening means on said arm movable through said opening into engagement with a can to be opened in said chamber; the said carrier arm and pivot pin being accessible from the exterior oct said base when the door of the vending machine is open,

7. In a can opening device, a base having a mounting portion at the iront thereof and an enclosure portion rearwardly of said mounting portion forming a can receiving chamber in said base with an entrance at the front thereof, said mounting portion being adapted for attachment to the inner side of a vending machine door panel to permit access to said chamber `from the outer side of said panel through an 'aperture therein, said enclosure having an opening in the top thereof communicating with said chamber, supporting means on the eX- terior of said enclosure portion adjacent the opposite sides of said opening, a pivot pin ldetachably mounted on said supporting means, a carrier arm pivot-ally mounted on said pin, and can opening means on said arm movable through said opening into engagement with a can to be opened in said chamber; the said base having a notch adjacent to `said supporting means and said pivot pin having an angular portion adapted to he received by said notch for retaining said pivot pin in operative position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A CAN OPENING DEVICE INCLUDING A BASE HAVING A PLATE PORTION AT THE FRONT THEREOF FOR MOUNTING SAID DEVICE UPON A SUPPORTING PANEL AND AN ENCLOSURE PORTION EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID PLATE PORTION, SAID ENCLOSURE PORTION FORMING A CAN RECEIVING CHAMBER WITH AN ENTRANCE IN SAID PLATE PORTION AND HAVING AN OPENING IN THE TOP THEREOF COMMUNICATING WITH SAID CHAMBER, A MOUNTING WALL EXTENDING UPWARDLY ABOVE THE TOP OF SAID ENCLOSURE PORTION ADJACENT SAID OPENING, CAN OPENING MECHANISM MOUNTED ON SAID WALL INCLUDING A DETACHABLE PIVOT PIN, A CARRIER ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PIN ON THE SIDE OF SAID WALL ADJACENT SAID OPENING, A CAN OPENING ELEMENT ON SAID CARRIER ARM MOVABLE THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO SAID CHAMBER FOR OPENING A CAN THEREIN, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID WALL FROM SAID CARRIER ARM, MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR FOR MOVING SAID CARRIER ARM TO CAN OPENING POSITION, AND A SPRING ANCHORED ON SAID BASE AND DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIER ARM FOR BIASING SAID ARM OUT OF CAN OPENING POSITION. 